Ottawa Chapter Kicks Off a New Event Season with Speed Networking Event.

George Hilan & The S2BN Ottawa Chapter | Oct 21 2024

The S2BN Ottawa chapter kicked off the 2024 academic year with one of our most highly anticipated and successful experiences, our speed Networking event. This event remains a favorite among early-career attendees, who value gaining insights from experienced career professionals. We were fortunate to host ten esteemed panelists from various sectors, including industry, government, and biotechnology, and each brought a wealth of knowledge to help attendees prepare for their future career paths.

The healthsciences speed networking event summarized into a short video.

The attendees represented a broad spectrum of academic backgrounds, ranging from undergraduate students to master's and doctoral candidates, postdocs, and research associates seeking to advance their careers. Many participants were eager to learn how to leverage their current skills and experiences to climb their desired career ladders. One piece of advice that resonated across all panelists was the importance of expanding your network of connections, whether by connecting with peers to exchange knowledge and experiences or building relationships with industry professionals who can provide valuable guidance and career advice. Equally useful was the emphasis on the long-term benefits of making connections at events like this, as making a positive, lasting impression can be the key to unlocking future opportunities.

One of our esteemed attendees, Dr. Kyle Briggs, an entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Ottawa, provided invaluable insights on successfully applying a scientific idea in a business context. Dr. Briggs provided the critical steps to transform an innovative concept into a scalable business venture. Drawing from his own journey of founding a company as a graduate student, securing funding, developing and selling the machines he co-created, and eventually selling the company, he highlighted his many challenges and how he overcame them.

His story offered a firsthand look at the realities of scientific entrepreneurship, covering everything from funding strategies and product development to navigating the complexities of scaling a business and understanding how to deliver what clients want in a product. For the students and early-career professionals in attendance, Dr. Briggs' experience served as a powerful example of how entrepreneurial thinking can complement scientific expertise. He provided practical business advice to those interested in pursuing their ventures, underscoring the importance of resilience, adaptability, and strategic networking in the entrepreneurial world. We aim to deliver these real-world experiences and knowledge through our events, helping equip the next generation of scientists and business professionals in Canada with the tools they need to succeed in both academic and industry settings.

Our talented attendees engage with career experts to learn more about their future possibilities, gaining better insight on which path they choose.

A heartfelt thank you to our excellent panelists and talented volunteers, whose hard work made this event possible. From organizing logistics and setting up equipment to coordinating with panelists, their efforts ensured the success of this outstanding event. A special thank you to Ollie’s Pub & Patio for providing the venue and delicious appetizers for this event. 

We hope you enjoyed attending, and we look forward to welcoming you to future events!